Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent |
5,234,395
|
Miller
,   et al.
|
August 10, 1993
|
Adjustable asymmetric-resistance upper body exerciser
Abstract
An adjustable resistance upper body exerciser includes a generally arcuate
belt (2) encircling the waist of a user and having a generally flat, rigid
posterior central portion 3 and flexible anterior portions (4, 4a)
including buckling means (5). A flexible inelastic cord (7) having a
length and left and right ends (8, 8a) passes through an elongated guide
means (12) attached to the belt, slidably retaining a central portion of
the length the cord and leaving the right and left ends of the cord
extending in the anterior direction. A snubber (15) is attached to the
rigid posterior portion of the belt, contacting the slidable cord and
applying an adjustable friction load to the slidably retained cord. A pair
of handles (18, 18a) are attached to left and right ends of the cord,
whereby a user wearing the belt encircling the waist may alternately pull
said left and right handles with a tension force generally proportional to
the friction load applied to the cord by the snubber.
Inventors:
|
Miller; Jack V. (700 N. Auburn Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024);
Colonello; Dennis J. (10230 Valleyheart Dr. #103, Studio City, CA 91604)
|
Appl. No.:
|
828494 |
Filed:
|
January 30, 1992 |
Current U.S. Class: |
482/118; 482/114; 482/120; 482/139 |
Intern'l Class: |
A63B 021/018 |
Field of Search: |
482/114,115,118,119,120,139,131,82
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4293125 | Oct., 1981 | Hinds | 482/82.
|
4335875 | Jun., 1982 | Elkin | 482/131.
|
4375886 | Mar., 1983 | Muys | 482/82.
|
4441707 | Apr., 1984 | Bosch | 482/139.
|
4540173 | Sep., 1985 | Hopkins, Jr. | 482/139.
|
Primary Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Assistant Examiner: Reichard; Lynne A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Small Larkin Kidde & Golant
Claims
We claim:
1. An adjustable asymmetric-resistance upper body exerciser including:
a generally arcuate belt encircling the waist of a user, said belt having a
generally rigid transversely elongated posterior central portion and
generally flexible anterior portions including buckling means:
a flexible inelastic cord having a length and left and right ends;
an elongated guide means attached to the belt, said guide means slidably
retaining a central portion of the length of the cord, leaving the right
and left ends of said cord extending in the anterior direction therefrom;
a snubber attached to the rigid posterior portion of the belt, said snubber
contacting the slidable cord and applying an adjustable friction load to
the slidably retained cord;
said rigid transversely elongated posterior portion of the generally
arcuate belt having a centrally located non-arcuate section in which the
snubber is mounted and has an anterior-facing inward-projecting portion
adjacent the spine, against the lumbo-dorsal fascia and latissimus dorsi
muscles of the user; and
handles attached to left and right ends of the cord, whereby a user wearing
the belt encircling the waist may alternately pull said left and right
handles with a tension force generally proportional to the friction load
applied to the cord by the snubber.
2. An adjustable asymmetric-resistance upper body exerciser including:
a generally arcuate belt encircling the waist of a user, said belt having a
generally rigid transversely elongated posterior central portion and
generally flexible anterior portions including buckling means;
a flexible inelastic cord having a length and left and right ends;
an elongated guide means attached to the belt, said guide means slidably
retaining a central portion of the length of the cord, leaving the right
and left ends of said cord extending in the anterior direction therefrom;
a snubber attached to the rigid posterior portion of the belt, said snubber
having a friction shoe in contact with the slidable cord, said friction
shoe applying a friction load to the cord which is in turn applied by an
adjustable knob on a screw passing through the rigid posterior portions of
the belt; and
handles attached to left and right ends of the cord, whereby a user wearing
the belt encircling the waist may alternately pull said left and right
handles with a tension force generally proportional to the friction load
applied to the cord by the snubber.
3. An adjustable asymmetric-resistance upper body exerciser including:
a generally arcuate belt encircling the waist of a user, said belt having a
generally rigid transversely elongated posterior central portion and
generally flexible anterior portions including buckling means;
a flexible inelastic cord having a length and left and right ends;
an elongated guide means attached to the belt, said guide means slidably
retaining a central portion of the length of the cord, leaving the right
and left ends of said cord extending in the anterior direction therefrom;
a snubber attached to the rigid posterior portion of the belt, said snubber
contacting the slidable cord and applying an adjustable friction load to
the slidably retained cord;
handles attached to left and right ends of the cord, each handle comprising
an elongated cylindrical tube having a closed end and a radially flanged
open end at least 50% larger than the tube in which the cord passes
through a hold in the closed end of said tube and is retained therein by
an enlarged cord tip;
the enlarged cord tip is a bight, wherein the cord is inserted into the
hole in the handle, passes transversely around a plug inside the handle
and the ends of the cord extends back through the same hole in the handle,
forming two frictionally-contacting cord portions therethrough; and
whereby a user wearing the belt encircling the waist may alternately pull
said left and right handles with a tension force generally proportional to
the friction load applied to the cord by the snubber.
4. An exerciser according to claim 3 in which one of the two cord portions
passing through the hole in the handle may be pushed into the hole in the
handle and the other cord portion may be pulled out of the same hole in
the handle, whereby the position of the handle on length of the cord may
be adjusted.
5. An adjustable asymmetric-resistance upper body exerciser including:
a generally arcuate belt encircling the waist of a user, said belt having a
generally rigid transversely elongated posterior central portion and
generally flexible anterior portions including buckling means;
a flexible inelastic cord having a length and left and right ends;
an elongated guide means attached to the belt, said guide means includes a
tube in which the cord is slidably disposed, and slidably retains a
central portion of the length of the cord, leaving the right and left ends
of said cord extending in the anterior direction therefrom;
said tube having tangential flanges whereby the cord is retained in the
tube and the guide is attached to the belt with fasteners through the
tangential flanges;
a snubber attached to the rigid posterior portion of the belt, said snubber
contacting the slidable cord and applying an adjustable friction load to
the slidably retained cord; and
handles attached to left and right ends of the cord, whereby a user wearing
the belt encircling the waist may alternately pull said left and right
handles with a tension force generally proportional to the friction load
applied to the cord by the snubber.
6. An a exerciser according to claim 5 in which the anterior ends of the
elongated guide terminate in cylindrical bushings.
7. An adjustable asymmetric-resistance upper body exerciser including:
a generally arcuate belt encircling the waist of a user, said belt having a
generally rigid transversely-elongated posterior central portion and
generally flexible anterior portions including buckling means, said belt
also having an inward-facing surface provided with a layer of
friction-increasing material;
a flexible inelastic cord having a length and left an right ends;
an elongated guide means attached to the belt, said guide means slidably
retaining a central portion of the length the cord, leaving the right and
left ends of said cord extending in the anterior direction therefrom;
a snubber attached to the rigid transversely-elongated posterior portion of
the belt, said snubber contacting the slidable cord and applying an
adjustable friction load to the slidably retained cord; and
handles attached to left and right ends of the cord, whereby a user wearing
the belt encircling the waist may alternately pull said left and right
handles with a tension force generally proportional to the friction load
applied to the cord by the snubber.
8. An a exerciser according to claim 1 in which the layer of
friction-increasing material is a printed pattern of elastomeric
rubber-like plastic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention applies to the field of exercisers, and in particular to
upper body exercisers that encircle the body of the user.
The need for upper body exercise is well known, and many devices for
performing upper body exercise while walking, jogging or running are in
the prior art. However, such prior art devices have not met the continuing
need for an upper body exerciser that is simple, light-weight and
unobtrusive enough to be publicly worn and used without discomfort or
embarrassment. A walker or jogger does not want to carry along a
cumbersome machine that looks like corrective orthopedic apparatus.
There are two basic forms of exercise apparatus: Isotonic resistance
exercisers and isometric exercisers. Isotonic exercisers provide an
adjustable resistance whereby the user's effort is balanced by the
resistance of the exerciser, which may be applied asymmetrically.
Conversely, isometric exercisers use forces applied symmetrically by the
user on opposite sides of the body, substantially without any resistance
in the exerciser mechanism.
The principal advantage of adjustable resistance exercisers is that they
are capable of exercising the muscle groups that cross the body
asymmetrically to permit torsional exercise movements. Many activities,
such as swinging a bat, tennis racquet or golf club; or walking, running,
swimming, sawing, hammering, punching, chopping, etc. are all
substantially torsional force activities. Therefore, in order to build or
tone muscles for most normal activities it is necessary to apply
asymmetric loads to the body. Since humans vary greatly in physical size
and strength, an isotonic upper body resistance exerciser must also
provide adjustment in both size and resistance to balance the forces for a
variety of users.
It is also very desirable to perform upper body exercises while doing lower
body exercises, such as walking, jogging or running. Therefore, an upper
body resistance exerciser should be light-weight, simple, and unobvious on
the body of the user who normally walks, jogs or runs in public.
One additional problem inherent in an upper body resistance exerciser worn
on the body is the connection of the hands of the user to the tension
apparatus. Pushing the hands outward from the body performs various upper
body exercises, but that movement tends to pull tension cords, commonly
made of elastic in prior art exercisers, across the wrists and forearms,
causing abrasion and discomfort.
Prior art resistance exercisers that permit asymmetrical exercise, are
quite cumbersome and complex, usually requiring some kind of harness to
stabilize the exerciser against rotation on the torso under asymmetrical
loads.
One example of a resistance exerciser for asymmetrical loads is U.S. Pat.
No. 4,986,537 (D'Orta). This device eliminates the need for a tension
cord, and thus solves the problem of wrist abrasion by the use of hand
cranks which are individually and torsionally adjustable; and are attached
to a harness encompassing both the waist and thighs of the exerciser. The
principal disadvantage of this prior art is an extremely limited range and
direction of motion. Also, the attachment of the crank mechanism frames to
both the belt and the thigh straps would virtually preclude walking,
jogging or running while performing upper body exercises.
Another example of a resistance exerciser for asymmetrical loads is U.S.
Pat. No. 4,993,705 (Tolle) in which elastic bands are attached to a vest
for torsional resistance to the exercise forces. This exerciser solves the
wrist abrasion problem by passing the cords from a stirrup handle through
guides on arm and wrist cuffs.
There are a number of isometric upper body exercisers that do not permit
torsional resistance exercising, as one hand is always used to offset the
load applied by the other hand. Thus these isometric exercisers can only
exercise muscles in symmetrical balance.
One example of a prior art isometric upper body exerciser is U.S. Pat. No.
4,961,573 (Wehrell) is which an elastic tension cord is wound around a
number of pulleys to provide a long length and uniform loading. However,
being an isometric exerciser, the load on one hand of the user is always
resisted isometrically by the other hand of the user. There is no means
for applying an asymmetrical tension load against the handles. This
severely limits this exerciser's ability to be used in asymmetrical or
torsional exercises. Further, the stirrup handles pass the tensioned
elastic cords across the users wrists and forearms, creating potential
discomfort and abrasion. Since this invention is intended for boxers, it
is probable that the inventor intended the device to be used while wearing
gloves that protect the wrists. This type of exerciser is very bulky and
complex and would not be obscure or sufficiently unobvious to be used by
the average consumer while publicly walking or running.
An example of an extremely simply isometric exerciser is shown in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,335,872 (Elkin) in which a rope passes though a padded tube that
encircles behind the neck of the user. This is a simple, light-weight
exerciser that would be relatively obscure in public use, but it is
isometric. Since one hand must balance the force on the other hand, this
upper body exerciser is incapable of asymmetrical or torsional exercises,
as there is no means for applying an asymmetrical tension load against the
handles.
Another example of a very simple isometric exerciser is shown in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,441,707 (Bosch) in which a rope passes though a tube that encircles
behind the back of the user. Also being isometric, one hand must balance
the force on the other hand and therefore, this upper body exerciser is
incapable of asymmetrical or torsional exercises. Further, the stirrup
handles tend to pass the tension lines across the user's wrists and
creating the potential for discomfort and abrasion. This exerciser meets
the requirement of being small and obscure in use, permitting exercise in
public while walking or running, but with no means for applying an
asymmetrical tension load the efficacy of the exercises permitted is
limited.
It is the principal purpose of the present invention to overcome the
problems and shortcomings of the above prior art devices by producing an
adjustable, isotonic, asymmetric-resistance upper body exerciser that does
not require isometric force balance. It is a further purpose of the
invention to provide an upper body exerciser that is easily adjusted in
tension of the cords leading to the individual handles. It is yet another
purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable
asymmetric-resistance upper body exerciser that has a means for resisting
rotational motion around the users body without resorting to a complex
harness. It is still another purpose of the present invention to provide
an upper body exerciser that is simple, small, lightweight; and
sufficiently obscure in use to permit public use while walking, jogging or
running.
The achievement of the foregoing purposes of the invention are achieved by
an adjustable resistance upper body exerciser which includes a generally
arcuate belt encircling the waist of a user and has a rigid posterior
central portion, generally conforming to the shape of the user's back to
limit rotation on the body. The belt also has generally flexible anterior
portions including a buckle to tighten the belt around the waist of the
user. A flexible inelastic cord passes through an elongated guide attached
to the belt that slidably retains a central portion of the length the
cord, leaving the right and left ends of said cord extending in the
anterior direction and terminating in adjustable-lengths in a pair of
handles.
A friction snubber is attached to the rigid posterior portion of the belt,
in contact with the slidable cord and applying an adjustable friction load
to the cord. A user wearing the belt encircling the waist may alternately
pull said left and right handles with a tension force generally
proportional to the friction load applied to the cord by the snubber. The
snubber includes a friction shoe applying a friction load to the cord
which is in turn applied by an adjustable knob on a screw passing through
the rigid posterior portion of the belt. This permits the user to turn the
knob to adjust the friction load on the cord.
A preferred embodiment includes a means for adjusting the length the the
cord by bending each cord tip into a bight, wherein the cord is inserted
into the hole in the handle, passes around a plug inside the handle and
end of the cord extends back through the hole in the handle, so the
position of the handle on length of the cord may be adjusted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable asymmetric-resistance upper
body exerciser according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the exerciser of FIG. 1, taken in
a horizontal plane while in use;
FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the exerciser of FIG. 1,
taken along section line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the exerciser of FIG. 1,
taken along section line 4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the exerciser of FIG. 1,
taken along section line 5--5 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the exerciser of FIG. 1,
taken along section line 6--6 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the exerciser of FIG. 1, shown during
asymmetrical tension exercise by a user.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In FIG. 1 an adjustable asymmetric-resistance upper body exerciser 1
according to the present invention is shown having a generally arcuate
belt 2 encircling the waist of a user, said belt 2 having a generally
rigid posterior central portion 3 and generally flexible anterior portions
4 and 4a including buckling means 5 and a pattern 6 of elastomeric high
friction material to reduce rotational slippage on the body under
torsional loads during asymmetrical exercise. A flexible inelastic cord 7
has a length and left and right ends 8 and 8a, respectively. An elongated
guide means 12 is attached to belt 2 and has narrowed anterior ends 13 and
13a, respectively. Guide means 12 slidably retains a central portion of
the length the cord 7, leaving the right and left ends 8 and 8a,
respectively, of cord 7 extending in the anterior direction.
As shown in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a snubber 15 is attached to the rigid
posterior portion 3 of belt 2. Right and left hand handles, 18 and 18a,
respectively, are attached to left and right ends 8 and 8a, respectively,
of the cord, whereby a user wearing the belt encircling the waist may
alternately pull right and left hand handles 18 and 18a, respectively. The
handles are provided with radial flanges 9 and 9a, respectively, to
prevent the handles from inadvertently slipping out of the grip of the
user. Rigid portion 3 of belt 2 has a substantially straight section
including in a preferred embodiment a convex portion 14 that is positioned
adjacent the spine of the user, against the posterior lumbo-dorsal fascia
and the latissumus dorsi muscles.
In FIG. 3 a cross section of the exerciser is shown having belt 2 attached
with fasteners 18 to elongated guide means 12 for cord 7. Cord 7 is
retained in guide means 12 by a tube 20 in which the cord is slidably
disposed. Tube 20 has tangential flanges 21 whereby the cord is retained
in the tube and the guide is attached to the belt with fasteners 10
through tangential flanges 21.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of snubber 15 which includes a metal shoe
24 contacting the slidable cord 7 and having a resilient support 25. A
hand knob 26 on a screw 28 biases resilient support 25 and shoe 24 against
cord 7. The amount of friction applied by shoe 24 to cord 7 is determined
by manual rotation of knob 26 on the shaft of screw 28 applying an
adjustable friction load to the slidably retained cord 7. Tension
resistance of the handles and cord may thus may be varied by the user,
proportional to the friction load applied to the cord by the snubber as
the user rotates hand knob 26.
In FIG. 5 a cross-sectional view of a handle 18, 18a is shown in which an
enlarged end 8, 8a of cord 7 is a bight, wherein end 8, 8a of cord 7 is
inserted into the hole 30 in the handle, passes around a plug 31 in a hole
32 the handle and end 8, 8a of the cord extends back through hole 30 in
handle 18 (18a) forming two cord portions therethrough. Adjustment of the
cord length may be made at either handle by pushing one of the two cord
portions passing through the hole in the handle and the pulling the other
cord portion out of the hole in the handle.
In FIG. 6 one of the anterior ends 13, 13a of tube 20 is shown terminating
at either end 13, 13a in a cylindrical bushing 35, 35a having a smoothly
contoured hole 36a to preclude excess wear of tube 20 during use.
In FIG. 7 a user is shown exercising the upper body while walking or
jogging by pulling alternate handles 18, 18a and ends 8, 18a of cord 7
which is adjustable in tension by rotation of knob 26 of snubber 15. In
this manner exercise at any desired tension level desired may be
accomplished to perform asymmetrical upper body exercise while also
performing lower body exercises, such as walking, jogging or running. Due
to the ability of snubber 15 to apply cord tension on the cord as one
handle is extended, there is no need to maintain any tension by the
opposite handle, as indicated by the slack cord end 8. The single-ended
handles 18, 18a keep the cord ends 8, 8a well clear of the user's wrists
and forearms, thus avoiding discomfort and abrasion.
Top